Rivera survives wild 9th

Closer fans Pujols with the bases loaded after a 5-run rally in the inning

Associated Press

Updated 12:34 am, Monday, June 17, 2013

Photo: Jeff Gross

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ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 16: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 16, 2013 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) less

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 16: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 16, 2013 in Anaheim, California. (Photo ... more

Photo: Jeff Gross

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New York Yankees' Travis Hafner hits a tree-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, June 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

New York Yankees' Travis Hafner hits a tree-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, June 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Photo: Chris Carlson

Rivera survives wild 9th

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Anaheim, Calif.

Bases loaded with two outs. Bottom of the ninth inning in a one-run game. The greatest closer in baseball history facing one of the best hitters of his generation.

An average Sunday afternoon game swiftly turned into a memorable moment, and Mariano Rivera made it even better for the Yankees when he struck out Albert Pujols to close out New York's skid-snapping win.

Rivera fanned Pujols on three pitches to end the Angels' five-run rally in the ninth, and the Yankees stopped their five-game losing streak with a wild 6-5 victory over Los Angeles.

"The moment doesn't really get to him," Travis Hafner said of Rivera, baseball's career saves leader. "As long as he's got the lead, you feel he's going to find a way to get the win."

Rivera would have enjoyed his 632nd save a bit more if he hadn't caused much of the drama himself in the park where he made his major-league debut in 1995 and earned his first save a year later.

CC Sabathia pitched five-hit ball into the ninth and Hafner hit a three-run homer off Jered Weaver, but the Yankees barely got enough from Rivera. New York's famed closer gave up three hits and a walk, but still got his 24th save in dramatic fashion.

"That's what everybody comes and pays for," said Lyle Overbay, who had an RBI double.

Jayson Nix also drove in a run during a five-run third inning for the Yankees, who salvaged the finale of their 10-game road trip by battering Weaver (1-3) early and hanging on by their fingernails late.

Sabathia (7-5) struck out six and walked three, but tired in the ninth, leaving with two runners on. After reliever David Robertson left with a 6-1 lead, Rivera gave up Erick Aybar's RBI groundout, Alberto Callaspo's two-run single and Peter Bourjos' RBI single.

Rivera then walked Mike Trout to load the bases before getting Pujols.

Note: Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has no new tears in the tendon sheath around his inflamed right wrist. Teixeira got a cortisone shot Sunday. New York manager Joe Girardi says he will be re-evaluated next week. Teixeira left the Yankees' 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday in the fourth inning. The Yankees sent him back to New York for evaluation on his problematic wrist, which forced him to miss the first 53 games of the season. Girardi says Teixeira will be out for "a couple of days" while the club waits for the inflammation to subside. If Teixeira had torn the sheath again, he might have been out for the season.